LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS OF MODIFIED GRID LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION FOR DIFFUSE DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA

Fifty eyes of 42 patients with background diabetic retinopathy and dif fuse macular edema were included in a prospective, randomized, clinica l study to determine the long-term visual results of modified grid las er photocoagulation compared with the natural course of the disease. A t the end of the three annual follow-up visits there were more eyes wi th improved visual acuity in the treatment group and more eyes with wo rse visual acuity in the control group. However, statistical analysis of the data showed that only at the end of the first and the second ye ar was there a significant statistical difference between the two grou ps. At the end of the third year no statistically significant differen ce was found. These results suggest that modified grid laser photocoag ulation is not an effective procedure for the long-term management of diffuse diabetic macular edema compared with the natural course of the disease.